Abstract

This literature study explores the role of early childhood education and care in addressing and promoting social inclusion. Complementing the review of evidence on the effects of ECEC on children’s cognitive and socio-behavioural outcomes, this section focuses specifically on the analysis of the contribution of ECEC to the social inclusion of disadvantaged groups. In recent times the EU has shown an increasing concern for poverty and social exclusion (European Commission, 2008a) with policy priority being given to the reduction of child poverty. Survey data indicates that the risk of poverty among children is, in general, higher than among the population as a whole in most of the Member States.